Quirky New July Laws Now in Effect

Yesterday ushered in a new month and approximately 150 new laws that many consider quirky. For example, in Illinois, cab drivers can charge $50 if a person gets sick in their car. The new laws vary across the nation, and some have a degree of amusement about them.

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In Kentucky, it is now illegal for feral hogs to be released into the wild and it will soon be much harder for people looking to sell stolen copper, as payments have been delayed. New Mexico is cracking down on those selling fresh chili peppers; vendors are required to offer proof that the peppers are actually grown in the state before making such a claim.

Other laws seek to benefit residents and promote patriotism. As of July 1, it is illegal to shackle a Florida inmate during pregnancy and immediately after birth. The state of Vermont is working to protect minors by banning them from using tanning beds.

Back in Kentucky, any flags for Prisoners of War or Missing in Action that are displayed in public institutions must be made in the United States. And in Indiana, government workers are prohibited from hiring or promoting family members under their supervision.

In Georgia, anyone wanting to display the "In God We Trust" decal on his or her license plates no longer has to pay a $1 fee. Any teacher found to have cheated on standardized tests will have his or her bonus revoked.

Perhaps one of the most championed laws comes out of California. It is now illegal to serve foie gras, which is duck liver usually fattened by force-feeding the animal. Animal rights activists have called for the menu item to be banned across the nation, citing cruelty to the ducks. California is now the first state to prohibit it from being served.